What Kills Potato Vines?

by Amy Rodriguez

Careful attention to daily care will prevent dieback on a potato vine.

Part of the nightshade family, the potato vine (Solanum jasminoides) is starkly different than the common tuber potato plant. Consisting of a creeping vine and bluish white blooms, this evergreen does not produce any food source, but offers lush foliage for trellis decoration and backyard privacy. However, a number of different pests and diseases can befall a potato vine and cause plant death.

Aphids

Potato vine foliage is a temptation for insect infestation, especially for aphids. These extremely small pests feast on the internal leaf fluids by penetrating the surface with their mouthparts. Although a small quantity of aphids will not kill a potato vine, a population explosion or a true infestation can decimate the plant's leaves. The flat foliage will become warped and bent; since the leaf cannot photosynthesize properly with a curled leaf structure, the plant growth slows and can completely stop without treatment. Horticultural soaps made specifically for aphid or general insect control are the best choice to rid the potato vine of a major infestation.

Glasshouse Red Spider Mite

An arachnid that can potentially kill a potato vine is the glasshouse red spider mite. Although only red during their dormant period in the fall and winter, these lime-colored mites feed on the vine's leaves, rendering their structure spotted and curled up tight. A major infestation will damage the leaves extensively and kill the potato vine. Insecticides or biological controls are the best methods to rid your potato vines of these mites.

Tomato Spotted Wilt

Incredibly small insects, called thrips, can transmit a very serious virus called tomato spotted wilt. These 1/16-inch-long pests infect the potato vine while eating their leaves. The leaf damage from the feeding is not as harmful as the virus itself; as the disease moves through the leaf structure, it changes color and develops many spots. Reviving the individual plant is not possible once it is infected. In fact, you will need to remove the plant from any other surrounding plants so that the infection does not spread to kill more plant life.

Grey Mold

Infecting potato vines through flying spores, grey mold is a fungus that can decimate a potato vine, especially if there is an injury to the plant's exterior. The fungus finds its way into the vine's injury, or even onto healthy leaves, and grows exponentially. Fuzzy mold will cause dieback of leaves and flowers. Control this fungus by keeping an eye on the plant's outside appearance. Any grey mold growth should be removed immediately by removing the leaf or flower from the vine. Any diseased plant matter should be disposed of in the trash, not the compost bin.

About the Author

Writing professionally since 2010, Amy Rodriguez cultivates successful cacti, succulents, bulbs, carnivorous plants and orchids at home. With an electronics degree and more than 10 years of experience, she applies her love of gadgets to the gardening world as she continues her education through college classes and gardening activities.

Photo Credits

Have Feedback?

Thank you for providing feedback to our Editorial staff on this article. Please fill in the following information so we can alert the Home Guides editorial team about a factual or typographical error in this story. All Fields are required.